The Western Development Commission has today announced Síorghlas, a new summit dedicated to driving enterprise growth, innovation, and investment across the West and Northwest. Taking place on 19 June at Dexcom Stadium, Galway, Síorghlas will bring together founders, investors, policymakers, and business leaders for a day of ambitious conversation on scaling companies, unlocking regional opportunity, and building globally competitive enterprises from the region. Minister Dara Calleary T.D. will also unveil findings from an independent socio-economic analysis of the WDC’s Investment Fund, providing new insights into its contribution to enterprise development, job creation and community resilience. As the WDC Investment Fund surpasses €100 million invested in the region, Síorghlas marks the next chapter in supporting businesses and communities to start, scale, and succeed from the West and Northwest. Image 1: Allan Mulrooney, CEO, WDC, Gillian Buckley, Head of Investment, WDC, John Power, Founder & CEO of Aerogen, Eamon Brady, Co-founder of Mednova, Neuravi, and WhiteSwell at the Síorghlas launch, Dexcom Stadium. Image 4: Allan Mulrooney, Minister Dara Calleary TD and Gillian Buckley 📅 June 19th 🕐 08:30 am- 2:30pm 📍Dexcom Stadium, Galway Find out more & register via link in bio. @deptrcdg @daracalleary @dexcomstadium @aerogentechnology @neurentmedical

Great energy in the room tonight, connecting with people, reconnecting with others, and looking forward to much more to come! @londonirishcentre

From startup to scale-up, having the right people and supports around the table can make all the difference. We’re looking forward to hearing from enterprise experts and business leaders in London tomorrow on what it takes to grow and scale from the West, what it means to have the right support in your corner, and what supports are available to those seeking to scale in the region. Featuring Méabh Conaghan, Enterprise Ireland Regional Director, Northern and Western Region; John Magee, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Mayo; Paul Conneally, CEO, Slick +; and Kevin Sexton, Head of Innovation, Alpha Innovation, this is an important conversation for those interested in growth opportunities in the West of Ireland. 📅 May 13th 📍London Irish Centre 🕕 6pm @enterprise_ireland @local_enterprise_offices @leomhaigheo @deptrcdg @irishinlondonofficial

WDC Policy Analyst Dr Aisling Moroney recently contributed an article to the 501st edition of Fortnight, the influential quarterly magazine of politics, arts & culture in Northern Ireland. Based on learning and insights gained from soon-to-be-published research on diaspora engagement in the West and Northwest of Ireland, Aisling reflects on the continued massive influence of patterns of emigration and the resultant diaspora on economy, society and family life in the region. While she notes the long-standing interest in diaspora engagement in many of the institutions and agencies of the State, she draws particular attention to the complex web of connections which are also created and sustained every day by non-state actors, by thousands of people and groups within and outside of Ireland. Her upcoming research will provide a much more detailed insight into what that web looks like. The article also reflects on how a shift is happening away from more traditional transactional approaches to linking with the diaspora and towards a focus on mutual benefit and on a sharing of the different kinds of resources that different parties bring to the table. The article also notes how aspects of the story of emigration from Northern Ireland – and of the impact and influence of the resultant diaspora – challenge the sometimes-oversimplified story of Irish emigration which is often told. But this story also reminds us to apply a level of nuance generally to this topic – as the recently published National Diaspora Strategy 2026-2030 reminds us, ‘the diaspora’ is certainly not a homogenous group. And equally, the people and organisations connecting with the diaspora have multiple motivations and interests, making this a fascinating area of research. Many thanks to Fortnight Magazine for the feature.

𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 | 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐞 | 𝐂𝐄𝐎, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐭 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 Willie Ruane joins Plug into the West as keynote speaker, bringing a compelling leadership perspective shaped by experience at the highest levels of both elite sport and corporate governance. A native of Mayo and former Connacht Rugby player, he is widely recognised for his ability to lead in complex, high-performance environments. Since taking up the role of CEO of @connachtrugby in 2014, he has overseen one of the most remarkable transformation journeys in Irish sport, showing that community and performance are mutually reinforcing strengths, and that with the right foundations and work ethic, anything is possible. We’re delighted to have Willie join us and really look forward to hearing from him on the night. 📅 May 13th 📍London Irish Centre 🕕 6pm ✍️Register: link in bio @connachtrugby @deptrcdg @deptculturecommssport @londonirishcentre @londonirishbusinesssociety @londonirishgraduatenetwork

Start-ups are where Ireland’s future jobs, exports and innovations begin. At Enterprise Ireland’s annual Start-Up Day, more than 650 entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders came together to celebrate founders at this crucial stage of their journey and highlight the importance of strong supports for ambitious Irish businesses. The event saw the announcement of a new €21 million National Accelerator Programme, alongside the official launch of Startup Ireland, further strengthening the ecosystem supporting the next generation of globally ambitious Irish companies. WDC’s investment team were in attendance as part of our ongoing work to support early-stage entrepreneurship and enterprise growth in the West and Northwest, alongside continued collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and regional stakeholders. 📸 Pictured L-R: WDC's Jonathon Kavanagh, Olive McLucas & John Muldoon @enterprise_ireland

The Western Development Commission is seeking to appoint a Head of Connected Hubs and Digital Innovation on a Temporary Specified-Purpose Contract to lead the ongoing development of the Connected Hubs programme. The successful candidate will be responsible for the governance, management and growth of the Connected Hubs programme (National Hub Network). This work will align with the strategic goals of the WDC strategy, ‘Unlocking Potential, Driving Change’, and ‘Our Rural Future’, led by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, as well as the forthcoming National Hub Strategy. The role will report directly to the Chief Executive of the WDC and will form part of the organisation’s senior management team. 📅Closing: 5pm, Monday 18th May 2026 👉Full job description and application details available on our website @connectedhubs.ie

Atlantic Technological University and the Western Development Commission have announced a new national research partnership focused on remote and hybrid work in Ireland. The two-year TU RISE funded project called, Connected Futures: The Economics of Remote and Hybrid Work in Ireland and its Impacts on Wellbeing, Mobility, and the Local Economy, will examine how changing work patterns are reshaping regional economies, communities, mobility and quality of life. 📲 Link in bio for more RISE@ATU is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Northern and Western Regional Programme 2021–2027. #EUinmyregion #ATUResearch #RISEATU #WDC #RemoteWork

We’re gearing up to bring the West of Ireland to London 🛫 From entrepreneurs who have built and scaled companies, to experts working across AI, creative, and tech, our guests have been there, done it and know what it takes. Joining us at Plug Into The West is Marie Donnellan, CEO of @platform94_ , the largest innovation hub in the West of Ireland and a centre of excellence for scaling businesses. Under Marie’s leadership, the hub supports over 100 companies and more than 700 professionals on site. A former Director at EY, she brings deep expertise in finance, strategy, operations, and commercial growth and is widely recognised for championing indigenous Irish businesses. Whether you’re scaling, investing, job-seeking, or simply curious about with what’s happening here, come meet Marie and our guests on the night. One week to go! ⏳ 📅 May 13th 📍London Irish Centre 🕕 6pm ✍️Register: link in bio @galwaychamber @galwaycitycouncil @leogalway @west_bic

📍Gweedore, Co. Donegal We recently spent some time in this beautiful part of the world with technology company Kelsius, who have built and grown their business here over the last 22 years. Access to capital in the early days played a vital role in unlocking Kelsius’ growth. Through the Western Investment Fund, WDC supported the company with equity and loan finance at key stages of both their early-stage and growth-stage journey. It has been a rewarding partnership with Kelsius through their growth journey, and we look forward to what comes next for them 👏 @donegalcountycouncil @donegaldaily @deptrcdg

From the heart of Donegal in Market Square, Letterkenny, ALPHA Innovation is helping ambitious founders turn big challenges into globally scalable opportunities. 🚀 As Head of ALPHA Innovation, Kevin Sexton brings a practical, design-thinking approach to business growth, helping businesses test ideas, embrace change, and innovate with confidence. If you’re in based in London and curious about how to start or scale in Ireland’s North West, Plug Into the West is your opportunity to hear directly from the people shaping the region’s innovation ecosystem. 📅 May 13th 📍London Irish Centre 🕕 Networking & nibbles from 6pm ✍️Register: Link in bio

We recently spent some time with the team at Kelsius in Donegal to learn more about their journey to becoming one of Europe's leading manufacturers and suppliers of wireless temperature monitoring systems. Stay tuned for the full story coming tomorrow. @kelsius_digital